New vaccination hub opens for NSW educators, after second vaccination extension passed

The New South Wales Government has confirmed that education staff will have priority access to vaccinations at the Homebush Qudos arena from today just days after extending the vaccination deadline to 19 September, 2021. 

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said tens of thousands of vaccinations had been reserved exclusively for education staff, with vaccinations one of the best lines of defence against the virus.

“The Qudos hub is complemented by 35 walk-in clinics in western NSW, and countless more clinics, GPs and pharmacies across regional NSW who are taking bookings,” Ms Mitchell said.

“The Qudos hub and walk-in hubs across NSW provide an opportunity for any staff member 18 years and above to quickly start or finish their vaccination journey.”

Bookings can be made here or via Healthdirect here. 

Vaccination deadline for educators in “areas of concern” extended to 19 September 2021

The news comes after the New South Wales Government extended the deadline by which authorised workers, including those working in early childhood education and care (ECEC) from local government areas (LGAs) of concern must be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Under the first extension, workers had until 6 September to be vaccinated, however following consultation with sectors and industries affected by the mandate, authorised workers from LGAs of concern now have until the end of 19 September 2021 to get vaccinated to allow them to continue to work outside of the LGA they live in, provided they have booked their COVID-19 vaccination by the end of Wednesday 8 September 2021.

The extended deadline means authorised workers from the LGAs of concern must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of Sunday 19 September to continue to work outside the LGA they live in from 20 September.

Authorised workers who are not yet vaccinated will have until the end of Wednesday 8 September 2021 to book their vaccination. From 9 September, authorised workers will be required to carry evidence of their booking if they wish to leave their LGA for work.

The requirement also applies to a relevant care worker aged 16 and over whose place of residence or place of work is in an LGA of concern. This includes those who work in an early education and care facility or who provide disability support services.

Authorised workers under the age of 16 years remain exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated.

For priority bookings visit:

• Authorised workers who live in LGAs of concern
• Anyone aged 16-39 who live in LGAs of concern
• Childcare, disability, and food workers who live or work in LGAs of concern

The LGAs of concern at time of press are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and the following suburbs of Penrith: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.

To view this information on the NSW Health website, please see here.